Shutter-operator for cameras.



A. L. MGKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER. SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS. APPLICATION 11.31) SEPT. 1, 1910, xmmwzn APB.11, 1914.

WM meocwo run AORRIS PETERS Ca.PHOTO-1.lTHu..wA5H1N0rON, D. C.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

A. L. MQKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER.

SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l, 1910. RENEWED APR. 11, 1914.

1,108,458. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

IHE .JORRIS PETERS COHFHOTO I(r140.wAsHl/vm'uNv n w A. L. MOKINNEY 65' L. H. ZEIGLER.

SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1910 RENEWED APR. 11, 1914.

1,108,458. Patented Au .25,1'914.

s SEEBTSWSHEET'S.

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A. L. MOKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER.

SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1511 0. RENEWED APR. 11, 1914.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. L. McKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER. SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. 1910. RENEWED APR. 11. 1914. 1 1 08,458 Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEEP: 5.

i M H 6 Hour A. L. MCKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER.

SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1910. RENEWED APR. 11, 1914.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

8 SHEETBBHEET 8.

W af/mwf If Qtfouwy THE Jame/s =5 TEFS co PHOTO LHHO WASHINGTON. u C.

A. L. MCKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER.

' SHUTTER OPERATOR FOB. CAMERAS.

APPLIGATIONIILEDSEPT. 1, 1910. RENEWED APB.11,1914.

1,108,458. Patented Aug. 25, 1914,

8 SKBET$SHEET 7.

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A. L. MCKINNEY & L. H. ZEIGLER.

SHUTTER OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS..

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1910. RENEWED APR. 11, 1914.

Patented Aug'.25,1914.

8 SHEETSSHEET 8.

' UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. MOKINNEY AND LYMAN H. ZEIGLER, 0F REDKEY, INDIANA.

SHUTTER-OPERATOR FOR CAMERAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Application filed September 1, 1910, Serial No. 580,045. Renewed April 11, 191-4. Serial No. 831,279.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Airrnn'n L. MoK1N- NEY and LYM'AN H. ZEIGLER, citizens of the United States. and residents of Redkey, in the county of Jay and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Shutter-Operators for Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices for operating the rotary shutterdisks of the kodak type of cameras, and has for its object the provision of a mechanism that capable of being set for future exposure of the plate to enable the photographer to focus and place his camera and then step in front of it so as to take a picture of himself. The device is also constructed so that the future exposure may be a snap shot or a time exposure, depending upon the actinic value of the light.

Our invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a camera, partly broken away, showing our shutteroperating device secured thereto; Fig. 2, a fragmental view, partly in section, of the side of a camera, showing the shutter-opcr ator in position; Fig. 3, a view of the inner side of the front plate of the camera with the operating mechanism. in position; Fig. 4., a front elevation of the mechanism on an enlarged scale with the inclosing casing removed; Fig. 5, a bottom plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a top plan view, some of the parts being omitted for greater distinctness; Fig. 7, a side view showing the lever-actuating shoe in place; Fig. 8, a view of the blank from which the base-plate is shaped; Fig. 9, the blank shown in Fig. 8 after being shaped; Fig. 10, a view of the blank from which the top plate is shaped; Fig. 11, the blank shown in Fig. 10 after being shaped; Fig. 12, a view of the blank from which the pawl-supporting plate is shaped; Fig. 13, a side view of the blank shown in Fig. 12 after being shaped; Fig. 14, an end view of the same blank shaped;

Figs. 15 and 16, a plan view and elevation,

respectively, of the cup-guide plate; Fig. 17, a fragmental view of the front of the operating mechanism with some of the parts omitted; Fig. 18, a rear view of the same parts shown in Fig. 17; Fig. 19, an. end view of the same parts; Figs. 20 and 21, f ont a side views of the inclosing casing for the mechanism; Fig. 22, a fragmental sectional view of the casing showing the spring to hold the lid in its closed position; Figs. 23 and. 24, plan and side views of cup actuating lever; Fig. 25, a view in elevation of the container casing; Figs. 26, 27, and 28, detail views of the operating shoe and its connected parts; Figs. 29 and 30, sectional views of the inverted cups; Figs. 31, and 32, detail views of the main and counter shafts, respectively, and their connected parts, shown partly in section; and Fig. 33, a detail of the pawl that controls the operation of the lens shutter.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout all of the views.

A. indicates a camera which for the purpose of the device, as shown in the drawings, consists of the type of camera manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company, of Rochester, N. Y., and known as the No. 2A Brownie, though with but slight alterations, if any, it is adapted for use with other styles of cameras employing rotary shutters, and we do not therefore limit ourselves tothe style of camera illustrated and described nor to the construction shown and described except where specifically claimed hereinafter.

As stated, the camera to which our device is adapted is the type employing a rotary shutter B, operated by a finger-piece lever C and spring-arm D, secured to the lever and slidably engaging a perforated ear E on the shutter, the lever C having an escapement arm F that engages the outstanding lugs G on the edge of the shutter B.

H designates the slidable rod that con trols the operation of the shutter when used ordinarily, engaging the lug I on the edge of the shutter when set for time exposure to stop the shutter, so that the exposure-opening K is opposite the lens until moved by the lever C. This construction. is familiar to operators of cameras and is described, not because it is a part of our invention, but because in use with our device the shutter has to be set for time exposure when the exposure-opening K is at the right-hand side of the lens, so that the lever C must be moved downwardly first and then upwardly to complete the exposure and closure of the lens-opening.

- The front plate L of the camera A has our improved shutter-operator secured thereto, which we will now proceed to describe. The operating device is secured below the light-opening; device 2' on plate L and is mounted on two plates, of which the plate 1 is the base plate and is shown as a blank in Fig. 8 and, t tor being shaped, in Fig. 9i while in Fig. is shown the top plate :3 as a blanlr and in Fig. 11 after bei shaped. said plates being); secured together by studs or bolts 3. (For improved shutteroporator is operated by a suitable spring motor consisting oil a main shaft 4:, journaled in plates 1 and 2, and rotated by a convolute spring); secured to the shaft and to one of the studs or bolts 3, the shafthavinn' a gear-wheel 6 mounted thereon and con nected therewith by means or a pawl and ratchet mechanism 7.

8 indicates a counter-shaft journaled in plates 1 and 2 and having a lantern pinion 9 secured threto and meshing with gear- '\'heel and a gear-wheel 10 that meshes with. lantern-pinion 11, secured to escapement-shat't 12.

13 indicates the escapement-wheel 14: the balance-wheel, and 15 the balancelever, an ,escgrpemept-arm (not shown) being also pro- "vided that the escapement-wheel 13 in the usual manner. This construction ot spring-motor is substantially the same as the motor employed in springractuated clockworks, and its operation is for that reason tam iar to persons skilled in the art. The

-motor is employed to regulate the operation of the shutter-actuating mechanism to time the opening; of the shutter in the future nd also to tii e the length of exposure from instantaneous to any reasonable time exposure, and the construction by which this accomplished will now be described. Secured to each of the shafts l and 5:; are beveled disks 1? and 1.8, respectively, and slidablv mounted on the shaft 4 is an inverted cup 19, having inclined sides 20. adapted to 'trictionallv engage the beveled edn c of dish 17, but held from engagement therewith bv means of coil-spring 21.

indicates an inverted cup with inclined sides 5) in. front of dislr 18 and held from engagement therewith by means of coilsprinu .241 shown in Figs. and 32.

indicates a plate having holes 26 therein to receive cups 1?) and 22 and having; ahorizontal flange 27 with vertical toot portion secured to top plate 2. V

29 indicates ears on plate as shown in 5, 15, and 16. and an ear extending TEOPWSFCllY from plate 2.

31 indicates a lever having ears 32 exten dine; rearwardly therefrom, and a rod extended tl'irough holes in ears and to serve a journal for lever 31, said rod 33 being shown in st, 5. and 6. One

end of lever 31 bears against a pointed projection 23 on the top of inverted cup 22. while at the opposite side of the journal the lever is formed with an aperture to receive main shaft it. the end of the lever being forned with an angular portion 35 that will he hereinafter referred to. Cup 19 is formed with a. pointer and cup 22 with a pointer 37. while the fixed casing 88 is formed with two se mental dials 39 and 4 0' formed on the h, or on a plate secured thereto. Dial 39 is ma rlrei to indicate minutes and 'il All is nnrrhed to indicate seconds,

ringthe mechanism to be heredescribed the pointer 36 is set to cute the number or minutes that are to pse before the exposure of the film or e is to take place to give the operator ime to not out in front of the camera, while l i 'i F is to indicate the length :h (,XDOSUYE, ti t is, it it is to be a snapi ointcr is not moved, while it is to be a time ex 'iosure the pointer is moved to the position indicating the length of the exp .re desired. neither of the cups 19 and engage disks 1'? or 18, it will be apparent that the cups may be moved as do sired prior to setting the device for operation. and then when the mechanism to be hereina' ter described is set for operation the le er 31 is moved by said mechanism so that the cup 19 is depressed into engagement 7 and causes the motor in its opvith disk ll ilion to rotate the cup and its pointer 36 th the shaft until the pointer reaches .it th s time the lever 31 is released 1 engaging: cup 19. and cup 22 is en- Id by said. lever El. and depressed so teat sad cup 22 engages disk 18 and the after the expiration oi a predetermined interval. will be more t'ullv described hereinafter. Plate 1 is termed with bearings 1-1, in which is ournaled drum said drum having); operating-handle 43, secured to one of its trunnions. and is formed with a fiat end 44L that serves a signal to indicate when the exposure is completed. Secure-d to drum 4-2 is a lever 45. having one end formed with a lj-shaped portion 176 that is i also secured. to the drum.

the pivot-pin 53 being extended beyond the ear 52 and engaging the body of lever 49. The two arms of the lever 19 are of different lengths, the shorter arm 53* being down wardly extending and is connected, as shown in Fig. 7, by rod 54:, with an ear on the U-shaped portion d6 of lever 15, while the longer arm 56 of lever 49 extends rearward from plate L, the rearmost end of the arm 56 having a laterally-extending pivot-pin 56' thereon.

58 indicates a shoe having a tread-plate 59, with a transverse notch 60 therein, an upstanding web 61 and a guide-plate 62 extended on aplane substantially parallel with the tread-plate 59, said guide-plate having a longitudinal slot 63 therein that engages a pin 64: on the inner side of front plate L. These parts are best shown in Figs. 3, 7, 26, 27, and 28. I

65 indicates a bar rigidly secured to shoe and having its free end formed with a rearwardly-curved and laterally-inclined portion 66, said bar 65 being clearly shown in Figs. 7, 26, and 37. Shoe 58 is pivotally mounted on pivot-pin 56, 67 indicating a rod engaging bar 65 and formed with an eyelet to engage the end of pin 56 68 indicates a coil-spring having one end engaging rod 67 and the other end engaging arm 56 and normally tending to move the shoe rearwardly into engagement with the finger-piece lever C, so that the notch 60 in its tread-plate 59 will engage pin 69 on said finger-piece lever. The real-most end 70 of lever 45 engages the end 66 of bar 65 and is formed with a downwardly-extending and laterally-inclined edge portion 71, that engages the laterally-inclined edge of bar 65 when the end 70 of the lever swings upwardly. The purpose of this construction is to provide for moving the shoe 58 out of engagement with finger-piece lever C and pin 69 thereon when setting the device for automatic operation, the end 70 by engaging the curved side of the bar 65 serves to lift the shoe when the operating-arm 43 is swung downwardly, and lifts the shoe from engagement with the lever C, so that the shutter does not open when the device is be ing set, as opening the shutter would cause an exposure of the sensitive plate or film in the camera, but when the lever returns during the automatic operation of the device the inclined portion 71 engages the inclined edge of the lower end 66 of the bar 65 and does not move the shoe from'engagemont with the lever C.

72 indicates a rod connecting lever and angular portion of lever to operate said lever 31, as hereinbefore described. so that it depresses cup 19 in the initial period of the operation of the spring motor and the cup in the final period, when a time exposure is being made, as hereinbefore stated.

The extreme end of lever 31 engages a vertical slot 73 in plate 74, shown in Figs. 7 and 19, secured to the edge of top plate 2, being guided thereby in its upward and downward movements, the walls of the slot preventing side thrust of the lever.

Plate 74 is formed with two elongated portions 75 and 76 that are formed U-shaped, as shown, and have pivot-pins 77 and '78 se cured therein, on which are mounted pawls 79 and 80, shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 19, the pawl 79 being positioned to engage the outer end of lever 45 when at the extremity of the setting movement of the device, while pawl 80 engages the lever at the point when the shutter B is moved to expose the lens-opening. Each pawl 79 and 80 is formed with a downwardly extending lug 81, shown in Fig. 7, and having a beveled edge 81, and a laterally-extending,projection S2.

S3 and 83 indicate coil-springs mounted on the pins 77 and '78, respectively, with one end engaging the U-shaped portions 75 and 76, while their other ends engage pawls 79 and 80 to hold them normally in a lowered position, lugs or projections 79 and 80 being provided to limit the downward swing of the pawls.

The upper end of lever 45 is formed with a beveled portion 84, shown in Fig. 7, complementary to the beveled edges 81 of projections 82, shown in Fig. 33, so that when the lever is swung downwardly in setting the device the pawls are pushed aside against the torsional resistance of springs 83 until the end of the lever has passed the lugs, when the pawls 79 and 80 resume their original position and engage the end of the lever.

Pawl 79 is normally held from movement away from the lug 79 by means of a. rod 85, Figs. 5, 7, 17 and 18, slidably mounted, in a hole 85 in plate 7 4, Fig. 7, said. rod being secured to a dog 86, shown in Fig. 5 as piw otally secured to an ear 87, extending rearwardly from plate 2, the upper end of the dog being positioned to be engaged by a pin 88 on the cup 19, and when the pointer 36 thereon reaches zero in its operation, as here inbefore described, the dog 86 will have been moved sufficiently to release rod 85 from engagement with pawl 79, and the lever 45 will be released from engagement therewith, the pawl being. swung on pivot-pin 77 against the resistance of spring 83 by the pull exerted by the stronger spring l7 secured to lever 45.

If the device is set for a time exposure, the pawl 80 will intercept the lever 45 and hold it in position to hold the shutter open, said pawl being prevented from swinging away from its restraining lug 80 by means of pawl 89, pivotally secured to an offset 90 on plate 74, the pawl being normally held in engagement with the free end of pawl 80 and a lateral inverted U-shaped extension 4; mos -es 91 of the offset 90 by means of a bow-spring lease rod 9 Y 92, secured at one end to plate 2, and with and the l?) Will he released to the a its other end engaging said pawl 89. The on el: spi The lever mg and i end of the pm'vl 89 that engages pawl 80 and 01 eratir 411-12143 Wlil thereupon re- 5 has its upper edge beveled, so tiat litter the tete until the end 01' the lever e' (gages the pawl is swung irrwerdly to release he mvl This operation of lGYOl. will leer, as will. he hereimiter deserihech the swing the bell-crank lever 49 that its pawl 80 will resume its nornnl gosition by i013 rear :iiin'i 5-6 will srvii down illCl with i'ioving to one side :19 inst the torsioi ill reit more shoe 538 end fies 13 sistnnee of its retaining spring; 83, the shutter 15. Jilse the :1 tr portion 37 75 lever 31 Will be raised so that it is released and cup is engaged y s-e that it 1 0; indicates a lQTQ' pivotnll secured to our 94L, extending herizonta ly Iiil'fill'l 2, and a rod secured to said le er and having its free end slidelin, i d in l8. and t e on) :22 and winter {)4 re- Q w 2 15 90, extending horizontally 0111 plate 9, a h. 5;; Ulltll the pointer reaches 89 seid end of the 1; d norm ll. engaging pawl r reaches zero the 89 to prevent 1t lrom six I; i ea se the 93 an d ii'iev'es 1t time "mwl when the 1mm. 1 i i pawl and the exposure.

2o 9'? indicates :1 projection on cup that d7. 5

lever 93 T en ter 1 er ehes 4T; mores Vere in. its opeietion by the spring-motor, as 1r (id is hereinhelore d ser l'" ;l.- parts are r I illustrated in. Figs hiring the final move- 98 and 99 ind t": springs seeiired to plate izoieh 1%)) again mgziges 0 2 and engaging le were 86 and. 93 to hold. said N i i l 108 and arm. 103 engages levers norn'ielly position to move rods i i to stop it and the spring zmd 95 in. engagement with pewls 7 and SO. 7 100 indicates :1 rod pivotally secured one end in 101 on pl-(ate 2, While its Ether end is posi met to Q1141? e it :hoteh 102 in the end of lever i 103 indiee i114; arm secured, to s:v 100 and so no sitioi ed that it on 3 the liitlltllC i-lli 35 l-il: When the free e H e rod is QDQQEJQL. lJV the "iOtCll 1052 in l 1 w ii ores id said d being lifted when. the leier is len] eng tgenient with it h means springerm jl fll shred uljeeent 40 and to Plzi 103;. Tl 3 parts it, nine in the front 105 1 and 4. r) ohe Ollfjfzttfil' to see l1, rill he unfle nod trom this eon s? when they approach tie!) that in the device or 1 "for time exp sure es lie einhefore oeseril warring thus described our inveiiition, e5 the ope 'ating arn'i ed; is moved dowmrmrdl3. whet ve eleim is as stated thus rot ingz; drum 3:53 and i it ohinuti )1 lever t? to set the shoe 553, hereinliefore specifically described. 7 er 1;: er- :ition the 1nd of tie l 1' 3 pas vls then] aside oninrvr ore and the lever comes to res i At the same tune G2 in level" 4 and hold 1 '1: ting spring, one

l5 :inee-Whe being; l'QZHOYOd from 10% line said rod being is. e lQVGl in the oltleiso that the operation 0:? when relies. l A motor is started. 2. .13 lever hold the le by thisopemtion so it it er d means to release oi? (up if? r; e:

it will he may a th hown and c ese iloed. its" h tl: main i ith :1 camera having deteohehly bell-crank lever pl?!- i filter reach 55 do? 8 7 Y Will re sch the position to reotally secured to said shoe to actuate it and the shutter-lever, a spring-actuated lever operatively secured to the bell-crank lever and engaging the shoe to release the shoe from the shutter-lever, in moving the lever against the resistance of its actuating spring, pawls positioned to enga e the lever and hold it against the pull 0% its actu ating spring, one of said pawls holding the lever in the position to open the shutter when released, the other pawl positioned to hold the lever when the shutter is open, a spring-motor comprising a main shaft and a driven shaft, mechanism operatively secured to the main shaft to release the firstmentioned pawl, and means operatively secured to the driven shaft to release the lastmentioned pawl, substantially as shown and described.

In combination with a camera having a lever-actuated shutter, mechanism for actuating the said lever controlled by releas able holding means, a springunotor comprising a main shaft and a driven shaft, a disk secured. to each shaft, a cup loosely mounted on each shaft and adapted to frictionally engage the disk thereon, means operated by said cups to release said holding means, and a lever actuated by the sl'uitter-actuating mechanism to severally move the cups into engagement with the aforesaid disks, sub stantially as shown and described.

l-. In combination with a camera having a lever-actuated shutter, mechanism for actuating said shutter-lever, pawls positioned to engage the actuating mechanism and hold it from operation, one of said pawls positioned to hold the mechanism from moving the shutter, the other pawl positioned to hold the mechanism inactive with the shutter open, rods engaging said pawls to hold them in position to prevent operation of the emitter-actuating mechanism, dogs secured to said rods, a spring-motor comprising a main shaft and a driven shaft, disks secured to said shafts, a cup loosely mounted on each shaft and adapted to engage the disk thereon, said cups formed to engage said dogs to move the rods from engaging the pawls, and a lever actuated by the shutter-operating mechanism to severally move the cups into engagement with the disks to cause them to rotate with the motor-shafts, substantially shown and described.

In combination with a camera having a lever-actuated shutter, a shoe detachably engaging the lever, a bell-crank lever pivotallv seemed to said shoe, to actuate it and the shutter-lever, a spring-actuated lever operatively secured to the bell-crank lever and engaging the shoe to release the shoe from the shutter -lever in moving the lever against the resistance of its actuating spring, pawls positioned to engage the lever and hold it against the pull of its actuating spring, one of said pawls holding the lever in the position to open the shutter when released, the other pawl positioned to hold the lever when the shutter is open, rods engaging said pawls to hold them in position to prevent operation of the spring-actuated lever, dogs secured to said rods, :1 spring-motor comprising a main shaft, a driven shaft, and a balance-wheel, a spring-rod having an arm to engage the balance-wheel at times, said rod engaging the spring-actuated lever at the completion of its operating movement to stop the movement of the motor, disks secured to the motor-shafts, a cup loosely mounted on each shaft and adapted to engage the disk thereon, said cups having projections to severally engage the dogs aforesaid, a lever actuated by the spring-actuated lever and positioned to severally engage the cups aforesaid and move them into engagement with the disks to cause them to rotate with the motor-shafts, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR L. MCKINNEY. LYMAN H. ZEIGLER. Witnesses:

R. J. SUTTON,

AMELIA BROIIEZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five'cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

